Chair.



c. L. GREiLIGK.

CHAIR.

APPLICATION. rum) APR. 2a, 1908.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

attozneq 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

C. L. GREILIGK.

CHAIR. I

APPLICATION FILED APILZB, 190B.

sum t me.

@LARENCE L. GREILIOK, OF TRAVERSE CITY, MTCHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T TRAVERSE CITY CHAIR 00., OF TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN, A COR?ORATION OF MICHIGAN.

CHAIR.

carom.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE L. Gammon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Traverse City, in the county of Grand Traverse and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Chair, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in chairs.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of that class of chairs having adjustable seats and backs, more especially the means for locking the seat and back of the chair in their adjustment, and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive device, adapted to be easily operated by the occupant of the chair, and capable of securely locking the seat and the back against rearward movement.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended' it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a longi tudinal sectional view of a chair, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of device for securing the seat and the back in their adjustment. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view, illustrating the construction of the clutch. Fig. 6 is a detail view, illustrating the manner of hinging the oscillatory clutch member. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the chair, illustrating a modification of the invention. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view, taken longitudinally of the clutch mechanism. F ig. 10 is a similar view, taken transversely of the clutch mechanism.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all'the figures of the drawings.

The supporting frame of the chair is composed of two sides, connected by transverse Patented Nov. 34), 1999. Serial No. 429,687.

bars 1 and 2 and 2 and provided with front and rear legs 3 and 4 and arms 5. The supporting frame of the chair receives a pivoted adjustable member, consisting of a seat 6 and a back 7, forming a continuation of the seat and extending upwardly from the rear portion thereof. The combined seat and the back are curved and merge into each other, a single upholstered frame being provided for both the seat and the back.

Secured to the seat frame at the bot-tom thereof are depending eyes 8, through which passes a transverse pintle rod 9, which also pierces the sides of the supporting frame of the chair at the lower portions of the said sides, and at a point slightly in rear of the center of the supporting frame. The pintle rod may be provided with terminal knobs or heads 10, and the front portion of the seat extends over the front transverse bar 1, which forms a stop for limiting the downward movement of the seat and the forward movement of the back of the pivoted adjustable member of the chair. The pivotal connection between the combined seat and back of the supporting frame of the chair permits the said combined seat and back to be tilted rearwardly or forwardly to arrange the pivot member of the chair in the desired position or at the desired inclination to suit the occupant.

The locking mechanism for securing the combined seat and back in its adjustment includes a longitudinally disposed connecting rod 11, pivotally connected at its rear end to a depending V-shaped bracket 12 and engaged at its front portion by an oscillatory clutch member 13. The bracket 12 is composed of front and rear inclined sides or members, secured at their upper terminals 14 and 15 to the seat frame and connected together at their lower ends by a transverse bolt 16, which also pivots the rear end of the connecting rod 11 to the bracket. The bracket extends below the pivot of the combined seat and back, and when the back is tilted rearwardly, the lower end or apex of the depending bracket is thrown forwardly.

The oscillatory clutch member, which depends from the crossbar 2 of the supporting frame, is provided at its upper end with an eye 17 and is pivoted between a pair of depending ears 18 of a bracket or plate 19 by a transverse pin or rivet 20, which permits the clutch member to swing forwardly and rearwardly. The clutch member, which is provided at its upper portion with an opening 21 to receive the connecting rod, is held normally at the limit of its forward movement by a coiled spring 22, which causes the clutch member to bind against and frictionally engage the connecting rod, where by the latter is held against forward movement and the combined seat and back prevented from further rearward movement. The lower end of the oscillatory clutch member is provided with a perforation 13 into which is linked one end of the coiled spring 22, which has its other end secured to the rear faces of the front transverse bar 1. The openin 21 is of a size to permit the connecting rod to pass freely through it when the clutch member is in a position at right angles to the connecting rod, but when the clutch member is swung forwardly by the spring, the rod is locked against forward movement. The clutch, however, does not lock the rod 11 against rearward movement, and the occupant in leaving the chair will swing the seat downward and the back forward and cause the pivoted adjustable member to assume its normal position without manipulating the operating mechanism.

The combined seat and back is released by operating mechanism including a transverse rock shaft 2 1 and a lifting rod The rock shaft, which is mounted in suitable bearings 26 and 27, is provided with inner and outer arms 28 and 29. The bearings are prel'erably secured to the bar or member 2 of the supporting frame of the chair, and the inner arm of the rock shaft, which is substantially L-shaped, is arranged in advance of the clutch member and is adapted to swing the same rearwardly to release the connecting rod 11. The outer arm 29 of the rock shaft is located at one side of the chair and is provided at its upper end with an operating arm 30, extending through a slot 31 and having a terminal head, or other suitable means for enabling it to be readily grasped by the operator. The upwardly extending rod 25 is also provided at an intermediate point with a bend 32 to arrange the body portion of the rod compactly within the adjacent side of the supporting frame of the chair, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The outer arm 29 of the transverse rock shaft extends rearwardly, and when the operating rod is lifted, the inner arm of the rock shaft is swung rearwardly to release the connecting rod. The operating rod is arranged within easy reach of the occupant of the chair and will enable the same to be readily adjusted. The operating rod may be arranged at either or both sides of the chair as desired.

In Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive of the drawings is illustrated a modification of the invention, involving a different construction of clutch mechanism for gripping the connecting rod 33. The clutch mechanism includes an oscillatory clutch member 34. and a depending substantially U-shaped yoke 35, carried by the clutch member and receiving the front portion of the connecting rod and cooperating with the clutch member to grip the said rod. The clutch member is pivoted at its upper portion between a pair of L-shaped brackets 36 by means of a transverse pin or rivet- 37, and it has a lower cam edge 38 for engaging the upper edge or face of the connecting rod 33. The connecting rod 33, which may be round, square, or any other shape in cross section, is approximately half round, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the upper face or edge 39 being flat to en able it to be firmly engaged by the lower edge of the oscillatory clutch member. The sides and bottom of the rod conform to the configuration of the bottom of the U-shaped supporting yoke. The clutch member is held in engagement with the connecting rod 33 by means of a coiled spring 40, arranged at an inclination and secured at its lower or rear end to the clutch member in a perforation thereof, and its upper or front end is attached to the rear face of the front cross bar or member of the supporting frame of the chair. The forward pressure of the connecting rod causes the oscillatory clutch member and the yoke to firmly grip the said rod to hold the pivoted member of the chair against backward movement. The clutch operates similar to that heretofore described and automatically releases the rod when the occupant leaves the chair. The clutch mechanism is also controlled by operating mechanism constructed and arranged as heretofore described. The lower or rear end of the connecting rod is connected with the bottom of the seat by the form of bracket heretofore described, and the operation of the chair is similar to that described in connection with the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

It is desired to be understood that the invention is applicable to the more common type of Morris chair wherein a stationary seat and an adjustable back are employed and the appended claims have this object in view. The term adjustable member in the claims is to be construed in a broad sense.

*laving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A chair including a supporting frame, a pivoted adjustable member having a seat, a substantially V-shaped bracket depending from the rear portion of the seat of the said member and straddling the pivot thereof, a rod pivoted to the bracket and extending to the front portion of the supporting frame, a clutch engaging the front portion of the rod, and operating mechanism for releasing the rod.

2. A chair including a supporting frame, an adjustable member having a seat pivoted at a point intermediate of its ends to the supporting frame, a bracket rigidly connected with the seat and extending to a point below the plane of the pivot, a straight connecting rod located below he pivot of the seat and pivotally connected at its rear end with the bracket and extending longitudinally of the chair to the front portion thereof, a clutch arranged at the front of the chair and supporting the free end of the rod, and operating mechanism located at the side of the chair in advance of the pivot and connected with the clutch.

3. A chair including a supporting frame, an adjustable member having a seat pivoted at a point intermediate of its ends to the supporting frame, a bracket rigidly connected with the seat and extending to a point below the pivot and in rear of the vertical plane of the same, a rod pivoted at its rear end to the bracket and extending longitudinally of the chair to the front portion thereof, a depending oscillatory clutch pivoted at the top and arranged to engage the front portion of the rod to lock the adjustable member, a coiled spring connected with the clutch below the pivot and with the supporting frame, and means for operating the clutch.

4. A chair comprising a supporting frame, an adjustable member pivoted to the supporting frame, a longitudinal rod located below the adjustable member and connected. with the latter, an oscillatory clutch member carrying means for receiving the front portion of the connecting rod, means for holding the clutch member in engagement with the rod, and operating mechanism for oscillating the clutch member to release the rod, said operating mechanism including a transverse rock shaft having an arm for oscillating the clutch member, and an operating rod connected with the rock shaft and located at one side of the chair.

5. A chair comprising a supporting frame, an adjustable member pivoted to the supporting frame, a longitudinal rod located below the adjustable member and connected with the rear portion thereof, an oscillatory clutch member carrying means for receiving the front portion of the rod, means for holding the clutch member in engagement with the rod, and operating mechanism including a transverse rock shaft provided with inner and outer arms, the inner arm being arranged to oscillate the clutch member to release the rod, and an operating rod connected with the outer arm of the rock shaft and extending upwardly therefrom.

i l l 6. A chair including a supporting frame provided at one side with a slot, a pivoted adjustable member mounted in the supporting frame, a rod connected with the rear portion of the adjustable member, clutch mechanism for engaging the front portion of the rod to lock the adjustable member, a transverse rock shaft mounted on the supporting frame and having an arm arranged to actuate the clutch mechanism to release the rod, and an operating rod connected with the rock shaft and extending through the slot of the supporting frame.

7. A chair including a supporting frame, an adjustable member having a seat pivoted to the supporting frame, a rod connected with the adjustable member, clutch mechanism arranged to engage the rod for looking the adjustable member, a rock shaft extending from the clutch to the side of the chair and provided with inner and outer arms, the inner arm being arranged to operate the clutch, and an operating rod connected at its lower end to the outer arm of the rock shaft and extending upward therefrom and guided on the supporting frame and provided at the upper portion with an operating device.

8. A chair comprisingasupporting frame, a pivoted adjustable member, a longitudinal rod connected with the adjustable member, an oscillatory clutch member pivoted at its upper end and having a lower cam edge arranged to engage the rod, a yoke carried by the clutch member and receiving the rod, a transverse rock shaft located beneath the chair and extending to the side of the same and having an arm to release the rod, and means located at the side of the chair for operating the rock shaft.

9. A chair comprising a supporting frame, a pivoted adjustable member, a longitudinal rod connected with the adjustable member, and clutch mechanism including an oscillatory clutch member arranged to engage the rod, a substantially U-shaped yoke depending from the clutch member and receiving the rod and cooperating with the clutch member to grip the rod, a spring connected with the yoke for positively holding the same in engagement with the rod, and operating mechanism including means for engaging the yoke to release the rod.

10. A chair comprising a supporting frame, a pivoted adjustable member, a longitudinal rod connected with the adjustable member and having a flat upper face, a pivoted clutch member arranged to engage the upper face of the rod, a yoke pivoted to the clutch member and depending therefrom and receiving and supporting the rod, a spiral spring disposed longitudinally of the rod and secured to the yoke of the clutch and to the front of the chair for positively holding the clutch in engagement with the rod and operating mechanism including means for engaging the clutch to release the rod.

11. A chair comprising a supporting f 'ame, a pivoted adjustable member, a longitudinal rod connected with the adjustable member, an oscillatory clutch member pivoted at its upper end and having a lower cam edge arranged to engage the rod, a yoke carried by the clutch member and receiving the rod, a spring connected With the yoke for holding the clutch member in engagement with the rod, a transverse rock shaft located beneath the chair and having an arm arranged to engage the yoke to release the rod, and means for operating the rock shaft.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CLARENCE L. GREILICK.

Witnesses HELEN ABBOTT, CLAIRE B. CURTIS. 

